And of God's signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. Lo! herein indeed are portents for men of knowledge."The Holy Quran"

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

ghost-related words and expressions

Do you believe in ghosts? Do you like reading ghost stories? Me? Hmmm… I do like reading ghost stories. Are you familiar with words or expression in English, which are somehow related to ghosts or are about them? If not, let's learn something new today.

Spooky: A house, which is spooky, makes you feel strange.You may think there are some ghosts there.

Haunted: A place that is haunted has ghosts in it.I know some guys who believe in haunted houses and witches on broomsticks. What about you?

Ghostly: It means like a ghost. You may hear ghostly laughter in haunted houses.

Apparition: An image of a dead person that you see suddenly.If you see an apparition on your way to home, for sure you will give up the ghost.

To give up the ghost means to die. It also means to stop trying.

Poltergeist: A type of ghosts that moves objects and often causes damage.Do not get afraid. These kinds of ghosts do not really exist. You can find them just in literature.

A ghost of a chance: a poor chance, not likely to happenBen's new car does not have a ghost of a chance. It is too slow.

The ghost at the feast: something or someone that spoils your enjoyment by making you remember something unpleasant.

I am sure that my note was not the ghost at the feast. Since, today you did learn something. Have fun.

"A ghost at the feast" is a reference to Shakespeare's play Macbeth. In the play, the ghost of Banquo, whom Macbeth had murdered, appears during a feast at Macbeth's palace, to torment Macbeth with memories of his past wickedness.Best wishesPeter

Quite interesting, although I don't believe in ghosts, hopefully won't, but that one about the ghost at the party reminds me of Shakespeare's Macbeth, which we just suffered through in English class. Lol. Keep it up.

Welcome!

Prepare yourself now to partake of a real mental feast – from appetizer of idioms, through meat of short English essays, salad of grammar, juice of good links, to dessert of English vocabulary. I hope you enjoy it.